Apparatus for feeding, cutting, and molding individual edible spreads



Nov. 26, 1946. c. DOERING ET AL 2,411,616 APPARATUS FOR FEEDING, CUTTING, AND MOLDING INDIVIDUAL EDIBLE SPREADS Filed April 7, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet l ITNVENTORS. GHARL ES 005mm;

ERIC W. ANDERSON BERT J. S GLUND HENRY H. momma v Nov. 26, 1946. 0. DOERING ET AL 2,411,616

. APPARATUS FOR FEEDING; CUTTING, AND MOLDING INDIVIDUAL EDIBLE SPREADS Filed April 7, 1941 asneets-sheet 3 f a! a? INVENTORS.

' CHA RL ES DOERING.

HENRY H. aazpma ERIC w. ANDERSON.

BERT KOLUND. v (Q at I a a ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 26, 1946 APPARATUS FOR FEEDING, CUTTING, AND, MOLDING INDIVIDUAL EDIBLE SPREADS Charles Doering, Henry H. Doering, Eric W. An-

derson, and Bert J. Skoglund, Chicago, 111.; said Anderson and said Skoglund assignors to said Charles Doering and Henry H. Doering Application April 7, 1941, Serial No. 387,256

2 Claims.

This invention relates to molding devices and more particularly to combined cutting and molding instrumentalities for converting edible plastic slabs into polygonal units of varied surface design, although certain features thereof may be employed with equal advantage for other purposes.

It contemplates more especially the provision of molding andcutting' instrumentalities combined to convert edible plastics into polygonal units in a single operation responsive to a feeding instrumentality for effecting the severance of plastic slabs into palatable segments of pleasing appearance.

It has been customary to form edible plastics such as butter and kindred edible substances into rectangular'bricks of varying weights; however, these necessitated transverse and longitudinal severance with auxiliary devices to create rectangular segments primarily for restaurant purposes. This not only entails much labor in the 1 tics are produced in accordance with the teachings'of the present invention in a single operating stroke which effects substantially simultaneous severance and surface design impression, this being distinguished from the usual method of longitudinal and then transverse division of units into multiple segments of usually rectangular shape and devoid of surface design. Surface designs on such commodities are considered advantageous for restaurant purposes. I

Power operation of the impressing means serves to feed the slab of substancesin the path of the impressing and cutting instrumentalities torender the latter effective in the continuity of operations responsive to a single manual control. This may be in the form of a hand or pedal actuator control depending upon the dictates of commercial practice. It is important that the power instrumentalities that actuate the cutting and impression instrumentalities, be controlled to the extent of creating a single actuation for each slab of material that is presented thereto.

This is controlled automatically to avoid a du plication of impressions and to insure precision as well as a maximum production by the improved combination of elements that makes pos-v sible the simultaneous power actuation of impressing and cutting instrumentalities in devices of this character.

One object of the present inventionis to provide an improved combined printing and cutting mechanism that is simple in construction and operatesresponsive to the feeding operation.

Anotherobject is to provide a simple feeding device for controlling the operation of instrumentalities that respond thereto to effect the formation of edible plastic slabs into a plurality of multiple segments of any selected surface design to render such more palatable and attractive.

Still another object is to provide improved power actuated means for segmenting edible plastic slabs into a multiple of associated units.

"A further object is to provide a novel combination of segmenting, surface impressing, and ejecting instrumentalities automatically operative responsive to a slab feedig mechanism for conversionof edible plastic slabs into multiple segments impressed with selected surface designs thereon.

A still further object is to provide a novel combination of feeding, segmenting, surface impressing and ejecting:instrumentalities combined for single stroke ower operation to convert edible plastic slabs into segments having any selected surface design thereon.

Still a further object is to provide novel feeding, molding, cutting and ejecting instrumentalities in combination with thermal control means to convert edible plastic slabs into multiple segments having any selected surface designs thereon.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of an illustrative em.- bodiment of the present invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view in elevation of a device embodying features of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a fra mentary sectional side view in elevation taken substantially along line IIII of Figure Figurei3 is a sectional perspective view looking down on the'platen or supporting table when taken substantially along line III-III of Figure l, parts'thereof being broken away to clarify the showing. 1

Figure 4 is a perspective plan view of the rear shoulder stop for limiting the inward positioning of the substance on the feeder plate as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line V-V of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line VI--VI of Figure 2 with the combined molding and cutting instrumentalities in spaced relation prior to efiecting the initial operation thereof.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the thermal plate element serving as a backing for the cutting and molding elements shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line VIIIVIII of Figure l constituting a side view of the lower part of the device with portions broken away to show the power actuating mechanism for the cutting and molding instrumentalities.

Figure 9 is a sectional view of the power control instrumentalities taken substantially along line IX-IX of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is an enlarged sectional view of the power actuator control taken substantially along line X--X of Figure 9,

The structure selected for illustration comprises a horizontal frame member I!) of substantially rectangular configuration which is supported at the desired elevation by a plurality of corner standards ii, in this instance four, that preferably though not essentially comprise angle irons attached at their upper ends to the frame member it by welding, riveting or other suitable fastening expedients. In the present embodiment, the standards H are inclined to converge upwardly toward the frame member is in order to serve as a rigid support therefor at any desired elevation from a supporting surface such as a floor I2.

To maintain the corner standards H in their desired spaced relation and to rigidify the support of the frame member 56, cross members I3 constituting angle irons are welded or otherwise joined to the cOIner standards li proximate to the lower extremities thereof. This reinforces the standards and provides a durable frame for the elevated support of the frame member Ill. A top plate It is disposed upon the frame 10 and extends rearwardly to provide an apron I5 supported by a frame extension It (Figure 2).

fhe top plate 4 with its rearwardly extending apron it has a depending webbed bracket l1 disposed between the rear corner standards H to terminate downwardly in a bearing l8 (Figure 8) to support the operating instrumentalities to be hereinafter described. Additionall the body top plate l4 with its rearwardly extending apron has an upwardly extending bracket I9 that presents a vertical surface member 26 in alignment with a corresponding depending surface member 2|, the former constituting a part of the upstanding bracket [9 and the latter a part of the depending bracket I? (Figure 2).

It should be noted that the top plate M has a depending bearing boss 22 formed integral therewith to depend therefrom, it constituting a rigid part of the top plate M for reinforced support by a web 23 extending to the depending surface member 2i for integral joinder therewith. Another bearing 23 extends laterally of the depending surface member 21 for attachment thereto in spaced relation with the depending boss 22, Ihe boss 22 depending from the top plate I l is vertically bored to receive a bearing 24 Which is pressed therein to define a guide for a correspondingly sized shaft 25 that is reciprocally mounted in bearings 23' and Z4 aligned therewith.

A substantially rectan ular platen 25 is fixed to the upper extremity 2! of the reciprocally mounted shaft 25 for movement therewith. As shown, the rectangular platen 26 has a flat upper surface 28 and depending side walls 29 (Figure 2) that define the periphery thereof.

To enable the support and feeding of the edible slabs of plastic material, a feed and supporting member 3%] is shaped to serve as a complement for the platen 26 to cooperate therewith. To this end, the feed and supporting member 30 has a flat upper surface 31 sized to slide over and confront. the corresponding surface 28 of the platen 25, the former having front and side depending flanges 32 to correspond with the flanged periphery 29 of the platen 26. The slab feed and supporting member 30, in this instance, has a pair of spaced rods 33 anchored in the forward depending flange 35! (Figures 1 and 2) to project rearwardly through correspondingly bored aligned bosses 3435 provided in the forward and rearward depending flanges 29 0f the platen 26 to serve as a guide for the spaced rods 33 and the slab supporting and feeding member 30 which reiprocate relative thereto. To this end, correspondingly spaced vertical slots 33' are provided in the forward wall 20 of th upwardly extending bracket 19 (Figure 3) to accommodate the spaced rods 33 as these are displaced rearwardly relative to and upwardly with the platen 26.

This enables the feed and supporting member to receive a slab of substance in its extreme inoperative position toward the left (when viewed from Figure 2) to convey the slab to an opposite extreme operative position above the platen 26 toward the right (when viewed from Figure 2) and in direct vertical alignment therewith to place the slab in the path of impressing and cutting instrumentalities to be described hereinafter. The slab feed and supporting member 38 is movable in a horizontal plane toward and above the platen 26 and in a vertical plane therewith, by means of the telescopic association of a rod 36 with a tubular member 31.

The rod 36 has a circular boss 38 at its extremity to cooperate with a furcated lug 39 anchored to the forward depending flange 32 of the slab feed and supporting member 35. The boss 38 and furcations of the bracket 39 are bored for axial alignment to receive a pintle 49 therethrough for pivotal connection of the rod with the feed and supporting member 39. The tubular member 31 extends downwardly for rigid attachment as at 4| to a pedal 42 (Figure 8). The pedal 42 has depending cars 43 through which a pintle 44 extends to pivotally connect the pedal 42 to spaced plates 45-46 attached to an angle iron cross-bar 41.

The cross-bar 41 is spot-welded or otherwise attached to the forward corner standards H of the frame ill (Figures 1 and 8) and an angle member 47' or other suitable trip (Figure 8) is fixed thereto in the path of the pedal 42 to serve as a stop therefor to limit its downward displacement. It will'be observed, therefore, that the actuation of the pedal 42 will cause the tubular actuator rodextension 31 to oscillate therewith and impart corresponding movement to the rod 36 which is in telescopic association therewith for sliding the slab feed and supporting member 3% toward the platen 26 until it reaches its extreme aligned position therewith. A spring 48 is anchored atone extremity 49 to the upper portion of the pedal 42 while the other spring extremity 50 is anchored to a lug 5| attached to a. oneof the forward corner standards H (Figure 8).

The spring 48 thus rotates the pedal 42 in a counterclockwise direction (viewed from Figure 8) to be returned to its initial position together with the slab feed and supporting member 30 that is operatively connected therewith. In order to maintain a slab of plastic material such as butter 52 in the desired position on the feed member surface 3! and to serve as an indexing expedient therefor, a substantially L-shaped member 53 is attached thereto for support proximate to the forward and side wall thereof. A substantially rectangular lug 55 is also attached to the feed member surface 3| in lateral alignment with the L-shaped indexing member 53 in order to insure against angular misplacement with respect to the impressing and cutting instrumentalities to be hereinafter described (Figure 3).

Then, too, the rearward edge of the feed member surface -35 is provided with an upstanding shoulder comprising an angular member 55 having attaching arms 55-51 projecting therefrom to contact the underside of the feed member 30. To this end, the arms 58-51 may be attached to'the underside of the feed member 38 by spotwelding or resort to fastening expedients that project through aligned apertures 55-459 and 60-5l provided in the shoulder arms 56-p-5'l and feed member 39,- respectively. In the event fasteners are employed for this purpose, they should be of a type to avoid obstruction to the upper feed member surface 3!.

With this arrangement, it will be apparent that the plastic slabs 52 will be confined to a definite position upon the feed member 30 to accurately receive the desired impression and simultaneous segmentation as will appear more fully hereinafter. In order to provide'for the convenient handling of the slabs 52 before and after being subjected to the simultaneous impressing and segmenting operation, rectangular table members 32-53 are supported adjacent the platen 26 and feed member 2 8 to extend laterally from both side edges thereof. The table members 62-53 have depending shoulders fi l-65 and 665! attached to their peripheral side edges.

The shoulders 5 t55 and 66-51 comprise strips of suitable material attached to the underside of the table members 6253, the shoulders 65 and 5'5 being at the left and right of the edges of the table members 6263, respectively, and the shoulders at and 6G being fastened to the inner edges of the table-members 6263 near the platen 26 and supported on angle irons 68-69 attached to the upper end of the frame member Iii (Figure l). Extensible legs Til-ll are attachedby clamps FE-l3 to brackets 'M-15 fixed to the inside of the table members 6263 at points spaced from the angle irons 58-69 in order to maintain the table members 62-53 in the desired horizontal plane. This affords a substantial working surface for handling and other operations preparatory to and after the slabs 52 are removed from-the member 25. I

It is to be noted that the plastic material 52 is first cut or otherwise shaped into preformed rectangular slabs of uniform size so that the guide and indexing expedients 535A55 will serve as a position indicator therefor on the flat feed member surface 3!. It is preferable though not essential that theedible plastic slabs 52 be deposited on a sanitary liner of parchment or other suitably processed paper adaptable for that purpose, thereby precluding the plastic slabs 52 from directly contacting the upper feed member surface 3! which serves as a support for the material 52 preferably with a liner therebetween. The preparation of the slabs 52 is fully disclosed in copending application Serial Number 269,297 and filed April 21, 1939, which has eventuated into Letters Patent No. 2,321,188, dated June 8, 1943, but such may be accomplished in other Ways depending upon the dictates of commercial practice.

In order to enable the vertical reciprocation of the platen 26 together with the feed member 30, the platen supporting shaft 25 terminates at its lower end in a furcated coupler 76 which is joined thereto by means of a threaded reduced end on the shaft 25 screwed into a drilled and threaded hole in the coupler 15, the shaft being provided with a lock nut H. The coupler 16 is attached by pivot 18 to a connecting rod 19, which has a split clamping bearing holder comprising a semicircular cavity in the connecting rod lfi and the cap 80. A bearing is held in the bearing holder and rotatably holds the eccentric disk 83 which is rotatably mounted on the eccentric shaft 84. The shaft 84 is journaled at one extremity in the bearing l8 which confronts another end bearing 85 supported by a bracket 85 anchored to one of the four corner standards H. The eccentric shaft 8d has a clutch housing it! rotatably mounted thereon and fixed to the eccentric disk 83 for rotation therewith. A ratchet wheel 99 is fixed to the shaft 84 and is intended to rotate continuously during the operation of the machine.

The clutch housing 81 and the attached eccentric disk 33 are adapted to be rotated by the shaft 85 when the latching mechanism herein after described is released. To this end, the clutch housing 8. is provided with a pawl 88 that is pivoted thereto as at 89 to present an offset lever arm in the path of a trip 9!. The trip 9! is horizontally pivoted to the bracket 86 by means of a pivot pin 92 (Figure 9) to present the trip extremity 93 in the path of the offset lever 95 constituting a part of the pawl 88 a rectangular stop SI is fixed to the bracket 86 in the path of the trip 9| to serve as a stop therefor. A coil spring 94 is anchored as at 95 to the trip 9! to impart an urge thereto in a clockwise direction (viewed from Figure 9) and the other extremity of spring 94 is anchored to a bracket 95' by means of a rib or projection 96 projecting therefrom. The bracket 95 is adjustably mounted on bolts 96" as a take-up on the end bearing 85 and secondarily to adjust the tension on the spring 94. A limit pin 91 is also anchored in the bracket 86 to serve as a stop against which the spring 94 moves the trip 9i so that its extremity 93 is normally disposed directly in the path of the offset arm 98. The pawl 88 is pivotally mounted to confront circumferentially disposed teeth 98 comprising a part of the ratchet wheel 99 which is keyed as at 99 to the shaft 84 for rotation therewith.

A spring W6 is interposed between the pawl arm 98 and a countersunk lug I!!! formed on the clutch housing 81 to normally urge the pawl 88 in engagement with the ratchet teeth 98. A pin 7 pawl 88 from engagement with the ratchet teeth 98, thereby permitting the shaft 84 to idle responsive to the rotation of a comparatively large pulley I63 driven by a belt I84 that engages a driving pulley N35.

The driving pulley N35 is fixed to an armature or rotor shaft I35 of an electric motor N11. The electric motor IIi'I has a base Hi8 which enables attachment thereof to the cross members I3 supported by the corner standards II (Figure 8). It will be observed, therefore, that rotation of the pulley I53 responsive to the motor IIl'I will normally impart rotation to the eccentric shaft 84 without actuating the eccentric 83. The eccentric 83 is rotated only when the pawl 88 engages its teeth 98, and this is controlled by the pedal 42 having an upstanding trip I59 fixed to the upper extremity III} thereof. The trip I09 is so postioned as to engage an offset extremity III of a lever H2 which is pivoted as at H3 to the web 2I of the lower frame bracket II.

The lever H2 is normally urged to its extreme clockwise position (viewed from Figure 8) by a spring H3 that is connected therewith for anchored attachment to the frame bracket 5|, thereby tending to return the lever IE2 to its initial inoperative position. The lever II2 has a cross lever I 54 pivoted thereto as at I I5 to present a curved edge Ilt that engages a reduced extremity Ill of the trip QI (Figures 8 and 9). The cross lever IIti is normally urged in a counterclockwise direction (viewed from Figure 8) by means of a spring H3 anchored to the free extremity H9 thereof. To this end, the other extremity of the spring H8 is fixed to the corner standard bracket 5| (Figure 8) to effect registry between a notch I28 in the curved edge H6 of the cross lever H4 and the trip 9|.

It will be observed, therefore, that the actuation of the pedal 42 will first cause the feed member 36 to move over the platen 28 and, thereupon, the latter will be in vertical alignment with the frame. whereupon the trip I09 will engage the offset extremity III of the lever H2 so that further depression of the pedal 42 will actuate the cross lever M4 to move the trip 9| toward the right (viewed from Figure 9.) This will enable the lever pawl 88 to pivot in a counterclockwise direction (viewed from Figure 10) under the urge of the spring I88 to cause the rotation of the cam 82 which, in turn, elevates and then lowers the connecting rod I9 together with the platen shaft responsive to a full revolution.

It should be noted that the trip 9| immediately returns to its initial position responsive to the urge of the spring 94 so that when the offset pawl arm 90 again reaches the path of the extremity 93 of the trip 9i, it will be disengaged to preclude more than a single complete reciprocation of the platen shaft 25. This is true even though the pedal :12 is maintained depressed by the attendant, because the cross lever H4 has an eccentric projection 52E which cooperates in the manner of a cam with a lug I22 fixed to the bracket 85 so as to raise the cross lever II4 as the lever moves the end III of the trip III to the right (as viewed in Figure 8) and thus to release the end II? from the left side of the notch I20 and to permit the trip 9I to return to its normal position under the tension of the spring 94. When the cross lever I I4 is in its intermediate position, the trip 9I cannot engage the pawl offset arm 93 of the pawl 90 to effect its displacement from engagement with the ratchet teeth 93.

Irrespective of whether or not the operator removes his foot from the pedal 42, it will be apparent that the eccentric shaft '84 will only rotate one full revolution to cause a single elevation of the platen 26 with its feed member 30 until the operator removes his foot from the pedal 42 and repeats the operation. When the operator has removed his foot from the pedal 42, the latter returns to its initial position and the feed member 3!! will also return to its inoperative position (Figure 2) and permit placement of another slab of plastic material 52 thereon.

In order to support cutting, molding and ejecting instrumentalities in the path of the platen surface 26, the upper frame bracket I9 with its surface member 23, is provided with an angle bracket I23 that is attached thereto to provide a downwardly flanged die and cutter holder I23 (Figures 2 and 6). The holder I23 provides a downwardly open rectangular housing I24 suspended from the angle bracket I23 in confronting relation with the platen 26 and feed member 39 when the latter is over the platen 25. The housing I24 is shaped and sized to correspond substantially with the feed member 30, the former serving as a retainer and guide for a plate I25 shaped to conform with the interior of the housing I24 for displacement through the lower open end thereof.

The plate I25 is, in this instance, of rectangular configuration to receive a smaller plate I26 which is covered by a flanged plate cover I2I brazed or otherwise joined therewith. The plate cover 527 is impressed with circuitous troughs I28 (Figures 6 and 7) to confront the plat I25 and define sinuous passages therewith. A thermal medium such as hot water is circulated through the passages I28 to control the temperature of the plates I25-I26. To this end, inlet and outlet orifices I29 and I3!) in the plat cover I21 communicate with the extremities of the passages I28.

The upstanding conduits I3I and I32 extend from the inlet and outlet orifices I 29-I30 (Figures 6 and 7) to freely project through apertures I33 and I34 provided in the die and cutter holder I235 The conduits I3I-I32 are provided with tapered extremities I35I36 for operative connection of couplers I3TI38 which, in turn, communicate with flexible hoses I39l4il attached thereto (Figure 1).

In order to control the temperature of the plate cover I21, the plates I25-I2 6 the dies I10 and the cutter blades I12 in contact therewith for thermal conduction thereto, hot and cold water supply pipes I4I-I42 extend upwardly from the fram apron I5 for interconnection by a thermostat control mixing valve I43 of standard construction. The mixing valve I43 communicates with a common discharge pipe I44 that is reduced by an extension I45 to receive a temperature indicator I46 operatively connected thereto for support thereon in full vision of the attendant.

As shown, the common discharge pipe I44 has a nipple I41 connected thereto for threaded engagement with the hand valve I48. The hand valve I48 extends into a supply pipe I49 that communicates with the flexible hose I49 suitably connected therewith to supply any suitable thermal medium such as temperature controlled water into the passages I28 of the plate cover IN. The outlet flexible hose I39 communicates with a pipe I50 that is also fixed to the frame apron I5 so that a suitable extension can be connected thereto for discharge of the water to a sewer or reservoir for recirculation depending upon the dictates of commercial practice.

tained at proper temperature best suited for the cutting and impressing of plastic substances from the slab or slabs 52. It should be noted that the flexibleconduits I39 and I40 are sulficiently long to permit the plates I25-I 26-421 to move as a unit relative to the die and cutter holder I23 within the limits of its chambered depth and to aiford this freedom of movement their connecting pipes I3I-I3Z project freely through the somewhat larger openings I33 and I34 provided through the to surface of the downwardly flanged holder I23.

As shown, the plate It? with its superposed elements I2E5-I2l-I3I-I32 is limited in its vertical movement upwardly by a peripheral shoulder I5i (Figure 6) provided in the depending'sides of the holder I23. Its vertical movement downwardly is limited by the right-angled rectangular cutter frame 152 that telescopes over the lower peripheral edge of the dieand cutter holder I23 for rigid attachment thereto by threaded studs E53 and, I5I projecting upwardly therefrom through apertures IE-ii-liiti in the die supporting plate "I25 which has tolerance of vertical movement relative thereto. The threaded studs Wit-45s extend through apertures Iii'I provided in the top of the housing I 2% of the die and cutter holder !23 for threaded attachment of wing nuts ted-I59 thereto, thereby enabling the secure attachement of the cutter frame thereto.

It is to be noted that the die holder plate I25 is normally urged downwardlyto its lower limit so that it engages the frame I52, this being effected by compression coil springs I60 and Ifil which are interposed between depending bosses I62I63 in the top of the housing I24 of the holder I 23 and the corresponding confronting wall of the thermal control plate l26-i2l, the impressing dies we, and the cutter blades I'IZ. So that the upward limit of displacement of the thermal control plate I2'l5-I2'I within the holder I23 may be adjusted to meet the requirements, threaded studs I64 and IE5 project through the correspondingly threaded depending bosses tin-4E3 and externally upstanding aligned bosses wee-IE1 formed on the upper wall of the housing lid of the holder 523 to project therein for axial alignment with the springs IIiil-ISI, respectively. To this end, the threaded studs w l -235 have their lower'extrernities projecting beyond the lower ends of the bosses IfiZ-Ifit which bear against the springs Hit-45!. The studs Ifi i-I6Ei project through the upper ends of the springs ltd-l6! for retaining them in proper alignment. The studs Milt-I55 have knurled turning knobs I68 on their upper external extremities and knurled lock-nuts its to engage the bosses I$5I6l to hold the studs Iiid|65 in adjusted position to serve as adjustable stops for the plates l25-I26. The springs I til-lei v will, therefore, normally urge the die holder plate I25 in its extreme downward position.

As shown, the lower downward surface of the plat I 25 has a plurality of individual molding dies I'Ifl that are uniformly spaced over the surface extent of the plate I25 to depend therefrom. The dies I'm have suitable indicia or designs in the face thereof to impart corresponding impressions to the slabs 52. The molding dies I'll? are detachably connected to the plate I25 for support therefrom by mean of suitable fastener screws I15 that extend therethrough to threadedly engage the molding dies I Hi, thereby securing them in the desired aligned and spaced relation.

Any suitable configuration or design impression may be provided on the dies I'Ifl to impress a corresponding surface design on individual dabs or segments of an edible plastic slab 52 such as butter. It is preferable though not essential that each of the impressions formed on the dies I It! should possess more depth and extend beyond the peripheral shoulder design ridge formed on each of the impression dies I'lii in order to define and impress a peripheral shoulder on the resulting edible dab or segment as fully disclosed in copending application serially numoered 264,412 and filed March 22, 1939, which eventuated into Letters Patent No. 2,323,523 issued July 6, 1943.

This assists in forming an enclosure to collect and compress th air that is caught in between the plastic dale and its respective molding die I'iil, thereby serving to subject such to pressure which prevents an adhesive joinder between the molding dies are and the individual dabs. In short, the compressed air that is trapped in each substance dab during the molding thereof, assists in the ejection and severance between the molding die H9 and the substance dab that has surface impression therewith.

It is to be noted that the plurality of molding dies I'It are arrangedcn the plate I25 to present linear intersecting spaces I II therebetween to permit and provide room for a plurality of intersecting and transversely disposed cutting blades I72 rigidly fixed to the cutter frame I52. The intersecting cutting blades I'IZ are provided with compiemental slits therebetween or are interslitted to define rectangular openings therebetween to freely receive the molding dies I It therein without presenting any obstruction thereto. The intersecting cutting blades I12 bridge flanged frame I52 for attachment thereto hi order to constitute an integral and unitary cutter for the plastic slabs '52 of a size corresponding to the interior size of the cutter frame I52.

The cutter frame lei is fixed to the housing I25 for retention thereon by the wing nuts I56--I5=$ that threadedly engage the studs I53- !54. Consequently, the wing nuts I58I59 will retain the cutter frame I52 in fixed relation with the housing 23 to constitute the lower end surface thereof. It will be apparent that the molding die supporting plate I 25 is maintained in assembled relation with the housing I23 against accidental removal therefrom by the cutter frame I52 that serves as a downward limit therefor. This is possible without preclud; ing or obstructing the inward movement of the plate with its individual dies I It during the impres on and cutting operation that will be described more fully hereinafter.

Now, then. the dies ill! with their supporting plate I25 reciprocate relative to the cutters I12 and their frame i52. The downward displacement cfthe pedal member 52 will displace the feed member over the platen 2255. Then the platen it will ascend with the feed member 38 having a slab thereon. The cutter blades I12 will project through the plastic slab 52 to effect the severance thereof into a multiple or plurality of segments and simultaneously elevate the dies HE! relative thereto (Figure 6) in that the springs i56i6l will yield until they are fully compressed. Thereupon, the further elevated upward displacement of the platen 26 will cause the individual dies l'lil to impress the individual plastic segments to impart the desired shoulder thereto and impress corresponding sursate therefor by providing a depressed rectangular central region H3 in the feed member 30. The extent of the depressed region I13 depends upon the size of the slab 52 and the variations caused therein by the flow of the substance during the impression and cutting operations.

During the impression operation, the air that was trapped between the molding dies lit and the segments out from the slabs 52, will be subjected to increased pressure tending to reduce the air volume. The peripheral shoulder on the moulding dies ill} serves to trap the compressed air in the centrally counter-impressed region or area of each segment. This coupled with the simultaneous compression of the springs ltd-lei imparts increased energy thereto, thereby serving as combined ejecting expedients for th segments as the pedal member 42 is actuated, the impression has been effected, and the platen it assumes its initial position relative to the cutter blade I12. The surface impressed and segmented butter dabs will then be retained upon a paper liner with which the slab 52 is deposited on the feed member as that recedes from under the dies no and cutter H2 at the end of each revolution of operation of the clutch mechanism 81.

This relative displacement between the molding dies no and cutter blades [72 provides automatic ejection and the air compressed between the dies H10 and the plastic slab 52, serves to preclude sticking or adhesion therebetween that would be highly undesirable. It should be noted that in the elevation of the platen 2t and the 4 feed member 3i] responsive to the actuation of the pedal d2, the cooperative relation thereof with the edges of the intersecting blades H2 can be such as to preclude direct contact therebetween and cause their approach within a minute separated distance of not more than of an inch. This precludes cutting entirely through the paper liner with which the slab 52 is manipulated so that it may serve as the handling medium for the segments out therefrom.

Then, too, the strike or reciprocation of the platen 25 may be such to even avoid cutting entirely through the plastic slabs 52 so that there is a minute body or connecting mass below the intersecting cutting or stroke lines effected by the cutter blades M2 to maintain the readily separable continuity therebetween. This will provide a plurality of adhering segments which can be successively separated by resort to a butter knife or other utensil commonly employed in their serving. It will be apparent, therefore, that the plastic slabs 52- may be converted into a great variety of segments of varying shapes and surface impressions depending upon the dictates of commercial practice and the requirements of any particular customer.

Impression of surface designs such as monograms, names, insignia or other surface designs can be accomplished without resort to any additional steps in the operation of the device so that there is no increase in cost beyond that required to effect the severance of the plastic slabs 52 into a plurality of segments of the desired size, configuration and shape. Since combined cutting, molding and ejecting instrumentalities have been provided in the holder housing I23 that comes down upon the upper surface 3!, the attendant is not required to perform any operation other than positioning the initial plastic slab 52 on the feed surface 3! by resort to the guide 53-4 and thereupon depressing the pedal member 152 to elevate the platen 26 in engagement with the housing I23 having its lower end provided with the forming dies I'll] and cutter fram I'll. Further elevation of the platen 25 effects displacement between the slab 52 and forming dies me together with the cutter I'll until the springs l60l6| are compressed to serve as ejecting instrumentalities as described herein.

It will thus be apparent that very simple, inexpensive and highly efficient butter or other edible plastic cutting, molding, and ejecting instrumentalities have been combined for operation responsive to a single movement imparted by an actuator such as the pedal 42. Then, too, the molding-dies Ill] are detachable either individually or through their plate I25 to render cleaning possible without entailing any appreciable time and to substitute dies for affording awide range of surface impressions to be imparted to plastic slabs such as butter and the like. Cover plates I'M are fitted for attachment to the corner standards I! to conceal the operating instrumentalities.

Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention herein specifically described without departing from the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages or features thereof and nothin herein shall be construed as limitations upon the invention, its concept or structural embodiment as to the whole or any part thereof except as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a device of the character'desoribed, the combination with a supporting member, of die supporting plate means associated with said supporting member, a plurality of uniformly spaced dies detachably secured to said supporting plate, cutting blades interposed between said spaced dies, said cutting blades and die supporting plate means being mounted for movement relative to each other on said supporting member, a platen movably mounted relative to said supporting member, means for displacing said platen relative to said supporting member, a feeding plate mounted for movement relative to said platen, said feeding plate having a depressed area to compensate for variations in the resulting thicknesses of the material segmented responsive to the operation of said cutting blades and impressing dies thereon, and means for displacing said feeding plate into vertical alignment with said platen for reciprocation therewith.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a supporting member, of die supporting plate means associated with said supporting member, a plurality of uniformly spaced dies detachably secured to said supporting plate, cutting blades interposed between said spaced dies, said cutting blades and die supporting plate means being mounted for movement relative to 13 each other on said supporting member, a platen movably mounted relative to said supporting member, a feeding plate mounted for movement relative to said platen, said feeding plate having a depressed area to compensate for variations in the resulting thicknesses of the material segmented responsive to said cutting blades and impressing dies, means for displacing said feeding plate into vertical alignment with said platen for I 14 reciprocation therewith, and means for simultaneously actuating said feed plate and platen so that they are synchronously displaced to feed plastic substances to said dies and cutting means.

CHARLES DOERING. HENRY H. DOERING. BERT J. SKOGLUND. ERIC W. ANDERSON. 

